Riviera D’Ulisse Park: Tiberius villa over 2000 years of history

Tiberius (42 BC – 37 AD) was Rome’s emperor during the adult life and death of Jesus Christ and he should not be confused with Tiberius Gracchus, who became tribune of Rome in 134 B.C. Tiberius was the second emperor of ancient Rome imperial age, succeeding the great Caesar Augustus (best known as Octavian), nephew of the great Julius Caesar When Augustus died in 14 A.D., Tiberius took control of the empire and ruled until 37 A.D. Although his time in power was not negative it was plenty in contradictions.

Despite his considerable military experience, he neglected the strategic importance of invading and maintaining new territories for Rome; he was known for his administrative talent but showed a recurrent lack of interest in state matter and an obstinate reluctance in running the state’ s affairs. This was much due to his self-centred personality and lifestyle. Tiberius's second wife was Julia, the daughter of Augustus. For a time it appeared that Tiberius's adopted son Germanicus would succeed him, until Germanicus died unexpectedly in 19 A.D.; Germanicus was the father of eventual successor Caligula.

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A dark and mysterious personality, Tiberius was an unsociable military man, hardly ever popular in Rome seeking an early retirement to escape all major ruling responsibilities. All historic sources depict Tiberius as an enigmatic and intriguingly complex character, often described intelligent and astute, but also affected by periods of deep depression and dark moods that had a significant influence on his political career as well as his personal and state relationships. He spent much of his time in his imposing and eccentric residence in Sperlonga in this part of southern Lazio (Latium).

During the last decade of his life he spent his last years in isolation on the remote Isle of Capri where historians recount in details how his eccentric life turned almost to madness. For a time he ruled in absentia through his lieutenant, Lucius Aelius Sejanus, prefect of the Praetorian Guard. According to a famous story documented by more than one Roman writer of his time, Sejanus saved Tiberius life when part of the grotto’s vaults collapsed during a banquet. In spite of this he ordered Sejanus execution in 31 A.D., fearing that Sejanus’ plot to overthrow him. Tiberius married twice but had no children of his own at the time of his death; Caligula succeeded him.

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Tiberius villa’s site covers 115 hectares (82 of land and 33 of marine area) and the park’s area runs along the stretch of coast going from the famous villa to the border with the Municipalities of Itri and Gaeta, on the cliffs of Punta Cetarola. The stretch of sea in front of the coast, crossed by the Natural Monument, is subject to protection as Marine Blue Oasis managed by the WWF Italy: for this reason, this is one of the coastal parks which best safeguard the marine environment. The name "Sperlonga" refers to the presence of several caves and cavities situated along the coast and whose ancient name was "speluncae".Among the other things, they have preserved prehistoric evidences.

These caves, very similar to those of the Circeo Promontory in the northern area of Sud Pontino, were also mentioned by Strabone and Pliny, are the demonstration of how the territory of Sperlonga was already known and appreciated in ancient times. There new nature trails on the promontories of Punta Cetarola, a couple of miles further south from Tiberius Villa. Although the wildlife is not as rich as few miles away on the internal Aurunci Mountains, here the Mediterranean maquis is home to Red Foxes, Hares, Crested Porcupines, Stone Martens and some other smaller mammals.

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The itineraries passing through the Mediterranean vegetation offer fascinating views of the spectacular coastal limestone cliffs. Travelers who visit this corner of Italy can almost feel the greatness and the deep ruts of the long and ancient legacy of this land with the history of Rome.The remains of Emperor Tiberius Villa are truly remarkable for the peculiar position of part of the site located into a natural marine cave. Important findings are conserved in the National Archaeological Museum with spectacular sculptures inspired by the myth of Ulysses which was already ancient in Roman times.

The sculptures were found smashed in many thousand fragments in 1957 during the works to re-build this section of the SS 213 and have been partially recomposed and now are exhibited in the Museo Archeologico Natzionale (National Archaeological Museum) at the entrance of the excavations of the open-air museum. In the late Greek style there are two colossal portrayals of the blinding of Poliphemus and Scylla’s Attack on Ulysses ship as well as other sculptures recounting the Abduction of Palladium and Ulysses with the body of Achilles. The legends and the stories of Ulysses landing in this part of Latium originated the name Riviera D’Ulisse and represent the ancient heritage of this land called Sud Pontino.